Leclerc: Crucial 2024 Ferrari change already validated in Vasseur rebuild

Charles Leclerc believes Ferrari's planned change of car concept for 2024 has already been validated, as he expressed full support for Frederic Vasseur's rebuild. The SF-23 machine has not lived up to expectations from Maranello, with only a handful of podiums for Leclerc and just one win for team-mate Carlos Sainz as hopes of pushing Red Bull for the title have not materialised. At the Spanish Grand Prix, Ferrari introduced a sizeable concept change from its 'bathtub' sidepods to a more Red Bull-esque 'downwash' concept, with further changes planned for the 2024 car - the first of which will be fully designed under Vasseur's leadership of the team. The Frenchman has expressed a desire to rebuild Ferrari in the long-term, but Leclerc fully buying into what his former 2018 Sauber boss is trying to do. Leclerc backs Vasseur "I always had 100% trust in Fred and on what he's doing with the team in the long term," Leclerc told media including RacingNews365. "I've always been aligned and am sure that it is going in the right direction, but of course, Fred needs time. "There are changes that are quite short-term or those that are very much long-term, so we just need to be patient, but I have no doubt that we are working in the right direction. "I am looking forward to next year, but at the same time, with what we've learned in the last races, I'm really excited to be on track again and testing new things to hopefully learn more. "In terms of results, it might not be as exciting as last year, but in terms of development and learning, there are lots of things that are planned for the next few races, not just upgrades but also in terms of understanding. "If we manage to learn as much as we expect in the next few races, it's super interesting, but first I'll focus on this year, and then next year. "The 2024 project is very different to the car we have this year, so this, with everything we've learnt, reaffirms that it is a good choice we've made for next year. "The more we learn is better for the last few details on next year's car, so it super important and good to understand before the end of the season, because we've still got quite a few races so maybe we can push a bit more in that direction." Will Charles Leclerc and Ferrari be back on form and title challengers in 2024? Let us know in the comments and by voting in the poll below!